The Most Satisfied Reincarnate

Meanwhile, amidst the chaos of the battlefield, a lone figure emerged as the harbinger of destruction. "Got one," the warrior declared, his voice cutting through the tumultuous wind that swirled around him. With an eerie distortion of the air, the Husk Wolf before him faltered, momentarily frozen in its tracks. Then, with a thunderous thump, its head cleaved downward.

"Got two," he continued, his words punctuated by the demise of another of the ferocious beasts. The sudden demise of their kin sent a tremor through the remaining Husk Wolf, their primal instincts tickling their senses, urging them to flee.

Yet, before they could even react, the creatures found themselves trapped in the same frozen state as their fallen brethren, their bodies splitting into two before crashing onto the blood-soaked ground. This macabre dance continued until no trace of the once-ferocious Husk Wolves remained standing.

"This should be ten, right?" His voice echoed in his mind, the intensity of his battle prowess matched only by the blur of his movements. Outside, his body moved with lightning speed, leaving in its wake a trail of rushing wind and crimson light, akin to a burning blade.

The killing process flowed as effortlessly as water, and despite his mastery as a swordsman, Desmond couldn't help but marvel at the possibility that this pack of Husk Wolves might have been nothing more than an illusion. According to the tome he had studied, the Husk Wolf was said to possess a higher rating than even the formidable Dire Wolf.

Even with the enemy vanquished, Desmond's vigilance remained unwavering. He circled the battlefield, his swift footsteps tracing a mesmerizing pattern, leaving the soldiers and mercenaries dumbfounded. Amidst his fluid motions, Desmond's attention was caught by the colossal dome situated at the heart of the battlefield.

"Amazing," Desmond silently praised, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. But as his curiosity took hold, he pondered, "Why would they erect such a massive barrier?" The sight of both soldiers and mercenaries huddled together, forming a formation reminiscent of a turtle retreating into its shell, further piqued his interest.

In that moment, Desmond's foot stumbled upon something, momentarily halting his lightning-fast pace. "I see," he muttered, realization dawning upon him as his gaze darted around. "That's why they're so frightened; they can't see me." Yet, before he could fully process this revelation, his sharp eyes caught sight of an approaching figure.

"It seems I should retreat for now," he mused, recognizing Veronica, the person drawing near. With a burst of speed, he sprinted toward the depths of the dense, inner forest.

...

Meanwhile, as Desmond disappeared from view, the steel Legion mercenaries began to deactivate their protective spells, eagerly anticipating the return of their leader.

"Sister," Veronica acknowledged, redirecting her gaze to her companion. Frustration colored her voice as she made her way towards the captain. "It's truly maddening that we couldn't apprehend that creature!"

"Don't worry. At least none of us were injured, and we're fortunate that we only lost the beasts," Raina replied, her voice tinged with relief. The unknown entity they faced was undeniably formidable, effortlessly slicing through the Husk Wolves as if they were mere loaves of bread. As a seasoned swordsman, Raina recognized that their opponent possessed power on par with her esteemed leader.

"Can't you see it? It's not a spell," Veronica questioned, her confusion evident. She had only caught a fleeting glimpse of light, and even her keen eyes, honed by her status as a peak Swordsman, struggled to keep up with its blinding speed. She couldn't shake the notion that the enigmatic luminescence was the result of an unknown wizard or witch casting a spell.

"No, sister, I can confirm it's a being," one of her comrades interjected, hugging herself with trembling hands. "There is no trace of natural energy accompanying its movements."

"Spread," a commanding voice suddenly boomed, capturing the attention of the Steel Legion members. The resounding thud of footsteps resonated, accompanied by the clinking sound of steel armor worn by the soldiers. One by one, they lined up with their backs facing the carriages.

"Search for any remaining beasts. If you find one alive, eliminate it on the spot!" The captain's voice rang out, his chest puffed out with authority. He cautiously scanned his surroundings, his eyes darting about, but when they landed on Veronica, a flicker of fear danced in his gaze. Hastily, he averted his eyes and turned away.

What a fearsome woman, the captain inwardly commented, his heart still racing in his chest. Just a single glare from her was enough to send shivers down his spine, but when coupled with her mercilessness, his legs suddenly felt weak and unsteady.

Not far from them, on the right side of the dry forest, another battle had also reached its conclusion. The members of the Corps of Teleknights let out a collective sigh, their faces etched with a mix of relief and concern. Their attention, however, seemed fixated on something deep within the heart of the withered forest.

Each wore a similar expression, a sense of foreboding etched on their features, particularly Vaurz, whose face had turned as pale as a ghost sighting.

*Crack* *Crack*

Abruptly, the sound of rustling bushes filled the air. As the noise drew nearer, a young man with strikingly handsome features and short white hair emerged, clutching a sword while his platinum armor glimmered amidst the encroaching darkness.

"Ray," Vaurz called out, his eyes scanning the newcomer from head to toe, akin to a mother inspecting her child before pulling him into an embrace.

Caught off guard by the muscular man lunging at him, Ray's face twitched as he swiftly sidestepped, narrowly evading the incoming collision.

"Leader," the rest of the members exclaimed in relief, their eyes brimming with joy upon witnessing their leader's return unscathed, not a single body part missing.

"Good job, everyone. Although this assignment was challenging, consider it a valuable training experience," Ray spoke, his gaze sweeping across the battlefield.

The accomplishment they had achieved may not have been monumental, considering their already renowned reputation, but even the smallest triumph could earn recognition from the Guild, as long as it contributed to the betterment of humankind or their respective kingdom.

"Wow," Ray uttered, his eyes drawn to the right side of the dry forest. He beheld the scattered remnants of a beast's organs, alongside the sight of headless Husk Wolf corpses strewn about. His eyes widened, unable to fathom that the Steel Legion mercenaries, known for their beauty and kindness, concealed such a dark nature beneath their outward facade.

As the Corps of Teleknights heard the captain's earlier proclamation, they followed his gaze, their expressions shifting to shock and disbelief.

"It... can't be," Vaurz, now standing beside his friend, was rendered speechless. He turned his gaze toward the members of the Steel Legion, who were nonchalantly weeping amidst the remnants of the battlefield, alongside the soldiers. Strangely absent from their faces was any semblance of disgust or guilt.

...

While the battle had just concluded, Desmond, still within the depths of the dry forest, was meticulously slicing every severed tail into smaller pieces and stashing them away in his pockets.

Having surveyed his surroundings using the system, Desmond identified a relatively secure spot to take a momentary rest. With a brief pause, he commanded, "Status."

The system responded with a display of his current attributes:

[-Status-

Name: Desmond

Gender: Male

Age: 10 years

Race: Half-Human (50%)

Class: 1st Swordsman/0th Dragon Slayer

Occupation: None

Unique Energy: 23.81/43.82

Strength: 28.74

Agility: 21.02

Stamina: 8.43

Dragon Essence: 0]

Upon seeing the remaining energy he possessed, Desmond couldn't help but be taken aback. "Wow... this spell really does consume energy sparingly," he murmured, realizing the efficiency of the spell and its impact on his own reserves.